• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

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Grill ‘n’ Chill fires up growth with new premises

Grill ‘n’ Chill, a North East eatery, is set to create up to 15 new jobs after opening its second restaurant in the Grill ‘n’ Chill name with the support of a six-figure funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Grill ‘n’ Chill, which offers a selection of grilled meats, curries, burgers and pizzas made-to-order, has opened a new outlet on Stannington Grove, Sunderland, to help it expand its customer base.

The business already has eight staff employed at its new restaurant, and plans to hire an additional seven new employees at the site over the coming two months.

Ahead of its opening, Grill ‘n’ Chill conducted a programme of renovations on its new premises, which formerly housed the Stannington Fisheries fish and chip shop.

The 32-seat restaurant now boasts brand new kitchen facilities, including a custom-made grill unit, a modern dining space and improved accessibility for disabled customers in the form of ramp access and disabled toilets.

Grill ‘n’ Chill opened its first restaurant in Featherbed Court, Seaham, in December 2013. Following its expansion, the business is now aiming to open a third Grill ‘n’ Chill outlet within the coming year. Grill ‘n’ Chill’s director, Syed Shah, also owns Chilled Out Gelato, an ice-cream and dessert restaurant in Seaham.

Lloyds Bank’s support of Grill ‘n’ Chill was secured with the help of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) – a British Business Bank initiative that helps small businesses access funding.

Syed Shah, director, Grill ‘n’ Chill, said: “A second Grill ‘n’ Chill restaurant is  a major milestone for us. We regularly see customers queuing to try our food at our Seaham restaurant, so expanding into a second location feels like a natural step.

“Thanks to Lloyds Bank being by our side, we now have a new base from which to offer the fresh, great-tasting food that we’re known for – and we have our eye on even bigger things in the future.

“The quality of our team is the key to our success, so we’re looking forward to welcoming new members over the coming months.”

Rosalind Hetherington, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Grill ‘n’ Chill has built itself a loyal local following, and its arrival in Sunderland will be welcomed by those across the area.

“The growth of businesses like Grill ‘n’ Chill can help to directly deliver local employment opportunities, and as part of our commitment to helping Britain prosper we’ve pledged to lend up to £700m this year to help North East businesses make their ambitions a reality.”